“I agree, standards are important, but there has to be, there must be a consideration for students not able to meet that bar,” she said.

Pace is one of 127 public charter schools currently operating in North Carolina.

The state Board of Education approved more than 20 public charters last month, including five in Wake County. Harnett and Halifax counties will get their first public charters. Other charters will open in Durham, Orange, Wilson, Wayne and Cumberland counties.

Critics say public charters take funding and some of the best students from traditional public schools while advocates point out they have to do more with less.

Charters do not receive funding for buildings and do not receive state lottery money.